Cleveland Cavaliers: Bob Finnan's 2013-14 report card

Michael Allen Blair/Digital First Media
Cavs' guard Kyrie Irving signals a three point basket by teammate Jarret Jack while sitting on the bench with two fouls with center Anderson Varejao during the first quarter of Wednesday's game at Quicken Loans Arena. Big questions remain with Irving heading into the final year of his contract next season.

The Cavaliers’ 2013-14 season started with high hopes.
It ended exactly like the three seasons before it, with them on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff field.
They finished 33-49, 23 games out of first place in the Central Division and five games behind No. 8 Atlanta for the final playoff spot.
The following is a final report card:Starters
PG Kyrie Irving, 6-foot-3, 193 pounds: He earned his second All-Star bid. The highlight of his season might have come during All-Star weekend, when he was named MVP. He had a good season, as he was the top scoring point guard in the East at 20.8 points per game. However, he took a step back in a number of areas, including his accuracy from the field (43 percent) and 3-point line (35.8 percent). He improved his playmaking ability to 6.1 assists per game. The downside to the Irving-Dion Waiters backcourt is we don’t know any more about it than we did coming into the season.
Contract status: $7.07 million for 2014-15. The Cavs will likely offer him a maximum extension on July 1.
Grade: B.
SG Dion Waiters, 6-4, 225: Say what you want about Waiters — and many do — but he’s a flat-out scorer. He can also get to the basket, pass the ball and defend. He needs to keep progressing with the nuances of the game — when to pass, when to shoot, when to drive. His numbers spiked upward all across the board, especially from behind the arc (31 percent to 36.8). He’s a keeper.
Contract status: $4.06 million in 2014-15.
Grade: B-.
SF Luol Deng, 6-9, 220: Fans and the media were excited when the Cavs pulled off this trade with the Bulls. He seemed like the perfect fit with the Cavs, who were desperate for a small forward. However, the Cavs soon found out that Deng wasn’t the same player he was in Chicago. He was banged up all season, which affected his athleticism. His camp will say those skills will return when he gets healthy. The Cavs realized they can’t spend major money on him in free agency. He is a solid citizen and a proven leader in the locker room.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent. The Cavs might make him an offer, but far less than he expects on the open market. Many around the league expect him to sign elsewhere.
Grade: C.
PF Tristan Thompson, 6-9, 238: How’s this for consistency? He scored four more points this year than he did in 2012-13 (961-957), but pulled down 19 fewer rebounds in 2013-14 than he did the season before (773-754). Just wind him up and send him out on the court. He’ll average 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds. He played in all 82 games for the second year in a row, a feat no one on the roster can match. He’ll probably never be a star, but he’ll be a player who gives maximum effort, is a pest of a defender and gets a ton of his shots blocked. He can play on my team any day of the week.
Contract status: $5.14 million in 2014-15. He’s eligible for a contract extension.
Grade: B-.
C Spencer Hawes, 7-1, 245: To see where the NBA has changed, just take a look at Hawes’ game. He’s a 3-point shooting center. He finished 10th in 3-point accuracy in the NBA at 41.6 percent. He was productive since coming to the Cavs from Philadelphia at the trade deadline. He plays with an edge on the court and doesn’t take much guff. He complains about every call and rang up at least a dozen technical fouls.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent. The Cavs are expected to make him an offer in free agency.
Grade: B.Rotation
PG Jarrett Jack, 6-3, 200: He became the veteran leader as the season wore on. He started slow, but his numbers picked up. He was second on the team with 4.1 assists. He missed only two games this season. He’s not a great athlete any more, but he knows how to play the game.
Contract status: $6.3 million in 2014-15.
Grade: B-.
PG Matthew Dellavedova, 6-4, 200: I remember standing in training camp watching him play and wondering, “What do they like about this guy?” As the season wore on, I figured it out. He’s a dogged and physical defender. You can put him on almost anyone, and he’ll make them work. He also shot 36.8 percent from behind the arc. He was by far the Cavs’ best rookie.
Contract status: $816,482 (not guaranteed) in 2014-15.
Grade: B+.
PF Anderson Varejao, 6-11, 267: He remains the Cavs’ best big. He’s their top post defender and was their leading rebounder at 9.7 per game. He’s entering into his last year on his contract, which leads some to believe they’ll trade him. It would be nice if he could stay healthy for an entire year, but that will likely never happen. He missed “only” 17 games this year with a sore back and a few other maladies.
Contract status: $9.7 million ($4 million guaranteed) in 2014-15.
Grade: A-.
C Tyler Zeller, 7-0, 250: He finished the season strong. He’s a quality player. I’m not sure the Cavs realize that some times. He has good footwork and can run the floor. He shot a team-high 53.8 percent from the field. He has to work on his consistency.
Contract status: $1.7 million in 2014-15.
Grade: B-.
PF Anthony Bennett, 6-8, 259: Speaking of consistency, that’s his biggest weakness. He also had trouble staying on the court. He missed 30 games this year due to injuries. He’s a “stretch 4” who will get better. The Cavs still like his potential. The fact remains he was a major disappointment this season.
Contract status: $5.56 million in 2014-15.
Grade: D+.
SF Alonzo Gee, 6-6, 219: He shot 41.5 percent from the field. It seems as if half of his field goals came on dunks. He gives you an honest effort on the defensive end. His lack of shooting and ballhandling hold him back.
Contract status: $3 million (not guaranteed) in 2014-15.
Grade: C-.Others
SF C.J. Miles, 6-6, 231: He missed 26 of the last 27 games with a sprained ankle. He averaged 9.9 points on the season. His outside shooting will always be his strength. He’s a serious 3-point threat. He gets a lot of steals because of his long arms.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent. The Cavs are expected to make him an offer in free agency.
Grade: C.
SG Sergey Karasev, 6-7, 196: He appeared in 22 games, including one start. He needs a body makeover. He needs to spend the offseason in the weight room and come back 210 pounds. He played well at the D-League level, but the Cavs didn’t think he was ready for the NBA. The Russian can shoot, handle and pass.
Contract status: $1.53 million in 2014-15.
Grade: C-.
SG Carrick Felix, 6-6, 201: He played in seven games this season. No one is quite sure if he can even play at the NBA level. He did look good in the season finale against Brooklyn when he had 10 points. He’ll get a good look in summer league.
Contract status: $816,482 in 2014-15.
Grade: Incomplete.
SG Scotty Hopson, 6-7, 204: No one has any idea on Hopson. He played seven minutes in two games. He has good size and athleticism. He was once a highly rated prospect coming out of high school.
Contract status: $1.45 million (not guaranteed) in 2014-15.
Grade: I.

About the Author

Bob has covered the Cavs for The News-Herald and Morning Journal since 1995. He's a graduate of Kent State University and New Philadelphia High School. Reach the author at rfinnan@morningjournal.com
or follow Bob on Twitter: @BobCavsInsider.